Uprootmap
Lawrence vs Joplin
Lawrence and Joplin
Photo: AbeEzekowitz / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Joplin are under the US rate in this release, 4.7 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Lawrence to Joplin
IRS migration on this site does not list a filed flow from Lawrence to Joplin above the cutoff in 2022-2023.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $986 in Lawrence and $906 in Joplin. Lawrence has a state tax on wages. Joplin has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Joplin is 82% of the national level for the same work, against 80% in Lawrence.
Joplin averages 223 sunny days, with July highs around 90°F and January nights around 27°F. Lawrence is 224 sunny days, 89°F in July, 23°F in January. Commutes average 20 minutes in Joplin and 21 in Lawrence.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
The IRS did not publish a large enough Lawrence → Joplin pair for 2022-2023. That usually means fewer than a few dozen tax returns, not that nobody moved.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Lawrence and Joplin changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 158 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,700–$3,200
- Container or pod
- $1,150–$2,150
- Rent a truck
- $450–$800
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Dig into Joplin
Questions
Is Joplin cheaper than Lawrence after tax and rent?
Yes. Joplin leaves about $104 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $986 in Lawrence and $906 in Joplin.
Does Joplin have state income tax?
Joplin is in Missouri, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Lawrence to Joplin?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.